Darren Hillier

Darren Hillier

Born ?? (Age ?? at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #30)

Total appearances 7

(2 League, 1 FA Cup, 1 FA Trophy, 2 League Cup, 1 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

9 October 1993 (Home Burton Albion)

Final game:

20 November 1993 (Home Tamworth)

Darren had joined Diamonds from Corby Town in the summer of 1993 and played in the full-back position. He made his debut in the FA Cup win over Burton Albion replacing the injured Darrell Page. After his final appearance the following month, he spent the remainder of the season in the reserves. He left in May 1993 and went on to play for several United Counties League sides, including Sileby Rangers and Northampton Spencer (2003/2004).

Appearances

1993/1994

Shaun Diver

Shaun Diver

Born ?? (Age 27 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #29)

Total appearances 14 – 3 goals

(7 League, 1 FA Cup, 1 FA Trophy, 3 League Cup, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

14 September 1993 (Home King’s Lynn)

Final game:

18 December 1993 (Away Leicester United)

Shaun was signed from Corby Town in the summer of 1993 where he had been their front man for several years. He had had the distinction of scoring the first ever goal at the Rockingham Triangle Stadium in August 1985 in a 7-1 win over Mile Oak Rovers. His first appearance for Diamonds was on 14 September 1993, coming off the bench in the home game against Kings Lynn. With just eleven minutes remaining, he managed to get on the scoresheet in the 6-0 victory. In 14 appearances, he only made two League starts before being consigned to the reserves for the rest of the season. He was released the following summer. He played for a few clubs in the United Counties League, including Corby Stewart & Lloyds (in 2000/01) and Desborough and is thought to have retired around 2007. He also played recently for New Cottingham and played in an “Old Boys” match in May 2011. He is currently employed as a Fulfilment Manager in Corby.

Appearances

1993/1994

Mickey Nuttell

Mickey Nuttell

Born 22 November 1968 (Age 24 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #28)

Total appearances 115 – 63 goals

(73 League, 10 FA Cup, 11 FA Trophy, 12 League Cup, 8 Hillier Senior Cup. 1 Maunsell Cup)

Debut:

21 August 1993 (Home Clevedon Town)

Final game:

20 January 1996 (Home Purfleet)

Boston born striker Mickey (Michael) Nuttell started his career with Peterborough United in 1985. During his time at the Posh, he went out on loan to Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United, before being sold to Cheltenham Town for £8000. in January 1989. Wycombe Wanderers paid £6000 for his services in September 1990, before he joined Boston United in 1991 for £14,000 before joining Kettering Town, then Dagenham & Redbridge, where scouts from Tottenham Hotspur took an interest. He moved to Nene Park in July 1993, for a £10,000 fee and was top scorer in the 1993 / 1994 season with 29 league goals as the Diamonds won the Beazer Homes Midland Division .He appeared in 40 of the 42 league games. He also played in the Beazer Homes Premier Division for the Diamonds, and maintained an excellent goalscoring record throughout. He made only a dozen or so appearances in the 1995/1996 season, mainly off the bench, and went out on loan to his hometown club of Boston United in January 1996. He was released in March 1996 to join Burton Albion.

After completing the season with the Brewers, he joined Kettering Town, but was released by the Poppies manager Peter Morris in the summer of 1998 and joined Kings Lynn. The following year, he was back for a third spell at Boston United, before a spells with Wisbech Town in July 2001, Bedford Town and Holbeach United. He joined Spalding United in the summer of 2003 and it was while he was with Spalding that his wife was killed in a car accident in May 2004. He later spent two seasons with Bourne Town, before joining Boston Town in the summer of 2006. He needed a hernia operation and his appearances were limited. He went back for a 4th spell at Boston United in February 2008. Mickey returned to Boston Town again, an was still making appearances at the age of 43, and combining his appearances, with coaching the Under16 / 18’s at Boston United. He is still linked to the Boston area, but has hung up his boots.

Appearances

1993/1994

1994/1995

1995/1996

Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson

Born 7 November 1962 (Age 30 at debut)

Position: Midfielder

(Diamonds player #27)

Total appearances 53 – 5 goals

(38 League, 6 FA Cup, 1 FA Trophy, 6 League Cup, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

21 August 1993 (Home Clevedon Town)

Final game:

28 January 1995 (Away Cheltenham Town)

Midfielder Paul was playing for non-league Nuneaton Borough when he was spotted by new Derby County manager Arthur Cox in 1984, and given a contract at the Baseball Ground. With the Rams then playing in Division Three, he made 14 appearances, but suffered a serious illness midway through the season which was to end his professional career. He became an engineer, but after a gap of several years, he made a successful comeback into non-league football with Kettering Town in 1988, spending a brief loan spell at Boston United in 1990. In the summer of 1990, Paul joined Barnet for a £17,000 transfer fee and was a member of their Conference title winning side of the 1990/1991 season. He left in May 1991 to return to Boston United, and after a single season at York Street, joined the newly formed Dagenham & Redbridge in a £50,000 deal which took Paul Cavell and himself to Victoria Road. He played in the Daggers first ever game after their merger, scoring their first ever goal in a 2-0 win at Merthyr Tydfil on 22 August 1992. Paul was signed from Dagenham Redbridge in July 1993 before the start of Diamonds second season and helped the club to gain promotion from the Southern League Midland Division. He also had a spell as team captain. After 44 appearances and missing just one game in the 1993/1994 season, he picked up a serious injury in the first half of the game against Bridgnorth Town on 8 March 1994, missing the remainder of the season. After some nine months out of the game, he returned to the Diamonds side in the Southern League Premier Division, but further injuries limited him to just a further 9 games. This time, there was no way out of retirement and he accepted a role as the Diamonds reserve team coach at the end of the 1994-95 season.

Appearances

1993/1994

1994/1995

Alan Kurila

Alan Kurila

Born ?? (Age 27 at debut)

Position: Defender

(Diamonds player #26)

Total appearances 31 – 1 goal

(20 League, 4 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

21 August 1993 (Home Clevedon Town)

Final game:

26 April 1994 (Home Northampton Spencer)

Alan was from a footballing family that included father John who had played for Colchester United as well as Northampton Town, and brother Mick who had played for both Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds. The defender had made his debut for Bromsgrove Rovers in December 1984, before joining Burton Albion, for whom he played for several seasons in the late 1980’s. He played for Kidderminster Harriers before returning for another spell with Burton Albion. He moved from Eton Park to Nene Park in July 1993.

His number of appearances was interrupted with injury, and he was released at the end of the single season. He continued his career at a lower level, and played for Solihull Borough and Moor Green. In 2001, he was playing for Midland Football Alliance side Oldbury United where he finished his career.

Appearances

1993/1994

Simon Richmond

Simon Richmond

Born ?? (Age 18? at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #24)

Total appearances 1

(1 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut & Final game:

6 January 1993 (Home Stewarts & Lloyds)

Simon had a very brief Diamonds career, playing just 9 minutes of the County Cup at home to Stewarts and Lloyds. He was with a member of the reserve / youth team, making several appearances, including scoring a single hat-trick. He had played for Bugbrooke St.Michael prior to his arrival at Nene Park, but he is believed to have taken an alternative career after leaving Nene Park.

Appearances

1992/1993

Richard Bailey

Richard Bailey

Born 29 October 1974 (Age 18 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #23)

Total appearances 70 – 12 goals

(44 League, 7 FA Cup, 5 FA Trophy, 10 League Cup, 4 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

6 January 1993 (Home Stewarts & Lloyds)

Final game:

15 March 1997 (Away Bromsgrove Rovers)

Richard was a member of the Diamonds youth team and joined the first team squad midway through their inaugural season. He rarely commanded a regular starting place in the first team during five seasons at the club, with many of his league appearances being from the bench. He was the elder brother of another former Diamond, Trevor Benjamin. Following promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, he continued to find his first team opportunities limited, with just nine starts in 1994/1995 season and only a single start in the 1995/1996 season, with just a couple more the following season as the Diamonds reached the Conference. He left the club in May 1997 after being released and joined Nuneaton Borough.

In 1999, Richard joined Stamford, spending several years there before moving to Raunds Town in the summer of 2003. After several years at Raunds, he spent a brief period at Long Buckby before signing for Wellingborough Town in November 2008. He returned to Stamford the following year, before retiring from the game. At the age of 39, he returned to the game signing for UCL Division One side Burton Park Wanderers at the end of March 2014 as a possible cover in a midfield role, although did not make an appearance. No further record of his involvement with the game has been found through to 2018.

Appearances

1992/1993

1993/1994

1994/1995

1995/1996

1996/1997

Kevin Fox

Kevin Fox

Born 22 September 1960 (Age 32 at debut)

Position: Goalkeeper

(Diamonds player #22)

Total appearances 99

(72 League, 2 FA Cup, 7 FA Trophy, 7 League Cup, 10 Hillier Senior Cup, 1 Maunsell Cup)

Debut:

6 January 1993 (Home Stewarts & Lloyds)

Final game:

6 May 1995 (Home Sudbury Town)

The Sheffield-born goalkeeper began his career as an apprentice with Lincoln City, signing his first contract in March 1978. In just over three years however, he only made a handful of appearance for the Imps, although he had the distinction of never conceding a League goal. Kevin had a brief spell at Boston United on loan during the 1979/1980 season, and in November 1981, he went on a free transfer to Kettering Town. He only played a couple of games for the Poppies before losing his place in the first eleven and went to Corby Town briefly on loan. On his return to Kettering Town however, he was still unable to regain a first team place, and he joined Rushden Town. He had a spell with Wellingborough Town in the 1983/1984 season before returning to Rushden Town in 1985 and was one of many players who joined Diamonds when the club was formed in the summer of 1992. He was to be the clubs No.1, but injury meant that his debut was delayed until midway through their inaugural season, with Kevin Shoemake taking his place in the first team. He worked as a stores and purchasing manager and stayed with the Diamonds for three seasons and after 83 appearances, went on loan to Raunds Town in November 1994. He was recalled in early February 1995 due to an injury to Martin Davies. After a further 16 games, he was released at the end of the season, and joined Raunds Town. After a spell with Rothwell Town, Kevin rejoined Corby Town in January 1998 at the age of 37 and was voted Player of the Year by the supporters the following season. He went on to become assistant manager with the Steelmen. He went on to manage Rothwell Town in the summer of 2001, joined Stewarts & Lloyds before being appointed manager in June 2003. He was then appointed manager at Whitworths in January 2008. In October 2008, Kevin took over as assistant manager at Wellingborough Town, but left at the end of that season following a management reshuffle. At the start of the 2009/2010 season, Kevin became assistant manager at UCL side Thrapston, before being appointed as manager of Division One side Burton Park Wanderers in March 2010. Despite his age, he was still active, and came on a a substitute in their league game against Wootton Blue Cross on 21 January 2012, at the age of 51. After a run of poor results, Kevin was relieved of his duties on 8 February 2013.

Appearances

1992/1993

1993/1994

1994/1995

Darren Watts

Darren Watts

Born 23 April 1973 (Age 19 at debut)

Position: Goalkeeper

(Diamonds player #21)

Total appearances 8

(5 League, 1 League Cup, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

First spell

Debut & Final game:

28 November 1992 (Home Evesham United)

Second spell

Debut: 20 September 1997 (Away Yeovil Town)

Final game: 27 January 1998 (Home Raunds Town)

Darren had spent time with Northampton Town and Cogenhoe United before joining Rushden Town prior to the merger. The young keeper established a remarkable record at Nene Park as his first two appearances were separated by some five years. Originally understudy to Kevin Fox at Hayden Road, he made his debut for the injured Kevin Shoemake against Evesham United in November 1992. Following Fox’s recovery from injury, he found himself surplus to requirements, and returned to Cogenhoe United. His second spell at Diamonds came in July 1995, on a non contract basis, without making an appearance. He had a third spell with Diamonds in September 1997, joining again from Cogenhoe United after injury to Steve Cherry, and making his second appearance for Diamonds. After a further six game, he was released March 1998 after the arrival of new signing Mark Smith.

He went on to play for numerous other clubs including Raunds Town, Aylesbury United, Abingdon Town (2000/01), Wealdstone, Cogenhoe United, Newport Pagnell (2002/2003), Ford Sports Daventry (2003/2004), Stamford and Corby Town (2005/06). He had returned to Cogenhoe United by the start of the 2008/2009 season. Although retiring in 2011, Darren made a brief return, joining Long Buckby in October 2011 and playing in their FA Cup tie defeat at Kidsgrove Athletic as cover for their injured keeper. On 10 August  2012, Darren moved to UCL Division One side Sileby Rangers. He left at the end of the season after helping them to win the title and joined UCL Premier side Cogenhoe United in January 2014. His final move as a player was to Daventry Town in October 2016, and he continued into the 2017/18 season, but he had hung up his gloves by the end of the season.

Appearances

1992/1993

1997/1998

Barrington Leslie

Barrington Leslie

Born ?? (Age ?? at debut)

Position: Midfielder

(Diamonds player #20)

Total appearances 27 – 6 goals

(19 League, 2 FA Vase, 4 League Cup, 2 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut:

10 November 1992 (Home Buckingham Town)

Final game:

3 April 1993 (Away Bedworth United)

A utility player but most at home in midfield, Barrington was one of many players to join the newly formed Rushden & Diamonds having previously played for Rushden Town. He previously had a brief spell at Northampton Town, before playing for several UCL sides including Desborough and Northampton Spencer. He joined the squad late, having played in Malta with Rabat Ajax, and made his debut three months into the inaugural season.

He played in defence, midfield and attack during his stay, but left in April 1993 to rejoin Rabat Ajax. Barrington was still playing for Bugbrooke in the 2001/2002 season. He played for other local teams for a while longer before retiring.

Appearances

1992/1993